Most Canadians lack access to latest technology in workplace

One-third willing to give up salary, vacation or benefits for ability to telecommute

Over one-half of Canadian workers want up-to-date technology and the ability to telecommute to be a priority in their workplace — but don’t have the resources or workplace policies to make it a reality.

That’s according to the Rogers Connected Workplace report conducted by Harris Decima, which also found technology and connectivity are key drivers in the modern workplace.

Elements like the latest technology and telecommuting will become even more important as time goes on, found the survey.

"It is clear that by making the shift to a more connected workplace, small and large businesses have an opportunity to influence productivity and drive innovation," said Steve Van Binsbergen, vice-president, business segment at Rogers Communications. "Businesses that enable employees to work seamlessly across devices and environments stand ready to improve employee morale and deliver better customer experiences."

The survey identified four major trends among Canadian workers:

1. They are willing to sacrifice salary and vacation days to work from anywhere

• One-third (33 per cent) say they would sacrifice salary, vacation days, or employee benefits to work remotely

• More than one-half (59 per cent) feel in the future flexible work hours and telecommuting will be top priorities in their choice of employer

2. They want access to the latest tech — but don’t want to lose face-to-face interactions

• Job satisfaction could increase for almost one-half (47 per cent) of workers if employers provided the latest technology tools and services

• Boomers are just as likely as Millennials to consider access to latest technology important (70 per cent and 66 per cent respectively)

• Almost eight in 10 (76 per cent) said collaborative workplaces make them more productive

3. They are willing to blur personal and professional lines (Bring your own device, etc)

• More than one-half (54 per cent) who use their smartphones for personal and professional use are comfortable with employer-enforced security policies

4. Laptops and tablets are future devices of choice over desktop PCs

• Right now, workers spend the majority of their day on traditional devices like desktop PCs (45 per cent) and landlines (10 per cent)

• In the future, many would prefer to use laptops (40 per cent), tablets (15 per cent), and smartphones (10 per cent) as primary work devices

"Evolving technologies are redefining the Canadian workplace," said Van Binsbergen. "We are working with customers across the country to deliver what we call the 'connected enterprise,' going beyond traditional office technology and implementing solutions that meet the needs of the shifting workplace."

Latest stories